If you have watched the popular comedy film Dennis the Menace, you would have remembered the iconic scene where Mr Wilson’s smiled with two unusually large incisors; those are Chiclets.

If you do not know , Chiclets are a chewing gum that was introduced to the American public in 1900 by American Chicle Company. The square-shaped candy became an instant hit among children and was widely popular throughout the 20th century. Chiclet gums was discontinued in 2016 but made a comeback in 2019 when it appeared on Abasto, a platform that highlights Hispanic food and beverage businesses.

As such, flawless white veneers that covers the fronts of the teeth have earned themselves the nickname Chiclets (also called Chicklets) Teeth. Due to its unnaturally perfect rectangular shape and shade of white, it has become synonymous with phony teeth.

Here are some defining characteristics of a chiclet teeth:

• Perfectly rectangular. Natural teeth comes in all forms of shapes and sizes; incisors are chisel-shaped while canine sharp and pointy. Teeth that deviates too far from their natural shape suggests that it is an artificial tooth.
• Unusually large. The size of your teeth is genetically shaped to match your face and mouth. An unusually big or small teeth is indicative of the presence of veneers or a denture.
• Perfectly white. Most teeth are discolored and have a light shade of yellow due to staining. Translucency should also be observed towards the edges of the teeth (the biting surface). Teeth that are too bright and differs in color from the rest of the teeth suggests that it is a veneer.

You may be interested in: Does Fluoride Whiten Teeth? All You Need to Know About Fluoride

In fact, naturally-looking veneers takes significantly more time to produce as additional work is required to customize the teeth. Some of the work involved includes the deliberate discoloration of the teeth as well as the addition of grooves to make them look worn out.

Chiclet teeth was a popular option among Hollywood celebrities during the late 1900s as cosmetic dentistry went mainstream. Many sought for a piano-key teeth not only for the perfect smile but also as a display of their status. However, chiclet teeth are now shunned upon by the new generation of millennials and Generation Z as “natural” becomes the new trend.

What to Do if You Have Chiclet Teeth?

While it is be possible that your natural teeth may look like a chiclet, the odds of having a perfectly shaped rectangular teeth with a perfect shade of white is very low. If you have had undergone teeth whitening treatment, the color will settle into a darker shade of white over time and appear more natural.

On the other hand, if you have had an artificial replacement of your teeth—dentures, crowns or veneers—and they look like chiclet teeth, the only way to make them more natural would be to have it redone. This is because the shape and color of such artificial teeth are fairly permanent and little work can be done on the teeth without breaking the integrity of the structure.

In conclusion, chiclet teeth are a great way to improve your smile. However, having teeth that are too perfect may not do well in this day and age where a natural look is preferred. If you are looking to have a denture or veneers, always consult your cosmetic dentist about what you are looking for—a perfect smile, or a natural smile?